Article carrier



Jan. 24, 1967 J. CHAUSSADAS 3,300,119

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed 00 4, 1965 INVENTOR JEAN CHAUSSADAS BY Wm ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,300,119 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 3,300,119 ARTICLE CARRIER Jean Chaussadas, Paris, France, assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,803 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to article carriers and is specially applicable to sleeve type article carriers of the open-ended type wherein a number of primary packages are arranged in a package group and about which the wrapper sleeve is disposed.

Handle structures are known in which a handle strap extends completely across one panel of the wrapper and into adjacent panels of the wrapper such for example as the side walls thereof. Ordinarily, such handles are tightly disposed about the packaged articles and hence are difficult to grasp. Heretofore, such handles have been rendered more readily adaptable for use by simply reducing the tension of the handle strap or of the wrapper itself or both. The normal result of such loosening of the package is a substantial impairment in the security of the package so that the primary articles frequently become dislodged through the open ends of the wrapper. Furthermore, where the strap itself is loosened as by applying slits to the ends of the strap and in the side walls of the carrier, undesirable protrusions are thus formed so that one carrier tends to become entangled with the protrusions of an adjacent carrier both in shipment and when a number of carriers are displayed in a stack as a group.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved, collapsible handle structure which is particularly adaptable for article carriers and which affords ready access for the hand or fingers of the user and which is specially arranged so as not to become entangled with immediately adjacent similarly constructed article carriers.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved and simple collapsible handle structure and article positioning means which are struck entirely from a single panel of an article carrier or the like.

The invention in one form as applied to an open-ended sleeve type article carrier comprises an elongated handle strap struck from the top panel of the wrapper and elevator tab means also struck from the top structure of the wrapper and foldably joined both to the handle strap and to the top panel of the wrapper along spaced hinge lines. Preferably, the hinge lines are disposed in generally transverse relation to the handle strap. Thus, when the fingers of the user are slipped underneath the handle strap, the strap is moved out of the plane of the top panel of the carrier and simultaneously the anchoring tabs swing about their hinge lines by which they are connected respectively with the top panel so as to allow the entire handle strap to move upwardly above the plane of the top panel of the wrapper. In this way adequate gripping room for the fingers of the user is provided. Furthermore, the strap When collapsed simply occupies the plane of the top of the wrapper and affords no undesirable outwardly protruding projections which characterized prior handles and which resulted in entanglement between adjacent similarly constructed wrappers. According to a principal feature of the invention, the improved positioning tab is struck from the top panel of the carrier and affords added stability and security to the package.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference maybe had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open-ended sleeve type carrier incorporating the collapsible handle structure of this invention and showing the handle in collapsed condition; FIG. 2 is an end view of the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the handle structure in its service position as distinguished from its collapsed condition; and in which FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the carrier depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is formed.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate the top panel of the wrapper. Side panels 2 and 3 are foldably joined to top panel 1 along fold lines 4 and 5, respectively. Slits 6 and 7 are formed along the fold line 4 and similar slits 8 and 9 are formed along the fold line 5. These slits 6-9, inclusive are for receiving the rimmed edges of the packaged items designated by the letter C in the drawings as is well known in the art. Bottom lap panels 10 and 11 are foldably joined respectively to the bottom edges of the side panels 2 and 3 along fold lines 12 and 13. Slits 14 and 15 are formed along the fold line 12 and similar slits 16 and 17 are formed along the fold line 13.

' The bottom of the wrapper as depicted in the drawings is a composite panel made up of the lap panels 10 and 11. In order to secure these panels together, the Wrapper is first disposed about the package group as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and then tightened. To facilitate tightening the blank, a pair of tightening slits 18 and 19 are formed in the lap panel 10 and similar tightening slits 20 and 21 are formed in the lap panel 11. Thus, with the wrapper disposed about the packaged group and with the lap panels 10 and 11 disposed generally underneath the packaged articles C, suitable machine elements enter the openings defined by the slits 18 and 19 and simultaneously machine elements enter the openings defined by the slits 20 and 21 and move in pairs toward each other so as to tighten the wrapper securely about the packaged group. Thereafter, the lap panels 10 and 11 are joined together by machine elements which drive the locking tabs 22, 23 and 24 into the openings defined by the retaining tabs 25, 26 and 27.

The particular wrapper depicted in the drawings is used in conjunction with packaged items C which are tapered as best shown in FIG. 2. In order to space the upper end of the packages C apart, a pair of positioning tabs 28 and 29 are struck from the top panel 1 and folded downwardly to serve as spacers between adjacent items C. While tabs 28 and 29 are well adapted for use with tapered articles, they may also be used in conjunction with spaced tubular or cylindrical articles which are not tapered. 'As is apparent from FIG. 4, tab 28 comprises a pair of fold lines 30 and 31 between which a vertically disposed portion of tab 28 is disposed and identified by the numeral 32. The horizontal portion of tab 29 is identified by the numeral 37 as best shown in FIG. 2 and the horizontal portion 37 of tab 29 acts as a spacer between adjacent packaged items. The side edges of the horizontal portions of tabs 28 and 29 preferably are configured so as to conform at least generally with the sides of the articles as shown best in FIG. 4 and the fold lines 30 and 31 are generally perpendicular to side panels 2 and 3.

In accordance with this invention, an improved diagonal collapsible handle structure is provided which may comprise an elongated handle strap 38 struck in its entirety from the top panel 1. Handle strap 38 is diagonally positioned with respect to top panel 1 in order to afford an area from which medial tabs 28 and 29 may be struck without severing the panel completely between any two opposite edges. At each end of the elongated handle strap 38 a pair of anchoring tabs are formed. These tabs are identified by the numerals 39-42 and are identical in construction. For example, tab 39 is provided with a transverse hinged connection 43 by which the tab 39 is foldably joined to strap 38 and another transverse hinged connection 44 by which the elevator tab 39 is foldably joined to panel 1. Similarly, elevator tab 40 is provided with a transverse hinged connection 45 by which the elevator tab is connected with the panel 1 and a transverse hinged connection 46 by which the elevator tab 40 is foldably con nected with the handle strap 38. In like fashion, elevator tab 41 is provided with a hinged connection 47 to the handle strap 38 and a hinged connection 48 by which the elevator tab 41 is connected to the handle panel 1. Similarly, elevator tab 43 is provided with a hinged connection 49 by which the elevator tab is interconnected with panel 1 and a transverse hinge line 50 by which the elevator tab 42 is foldably connected with the handle strap 38.

With the handle strap occupying its collapsed condition as depicted in FIG. 1, it is only necessary for the user to slip his fingers undereath the handle strap 38. This action causes the elevator tabs 39 and 40 to swing in a generally clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 about the hinge lines 44 and 45. Simultaneously, the elevator tabs 41 and 42 swing in a generally counter-clockwise direction about the hinge lines 48 and 49 to cause the handle structure to assume the position depicted in FIG. 3. Of course, the opening action necessarily requires an upward bending of the strap 38 as depicted in FIG. 3, for example.

According to one feature of the invention, the positioning tab 28 is struck from the top panel 1 in such a way that when disposed in its service condition an opening is provided immediately adjacent the side edge of the strap 38 at a point generally designated in FIG. 1, by the numeral 51. Thus, a finger may be slipped into the opening defined by the positioning tab 28 and in this manner easy access is obtained to the underneath surface of the handle strap 38 according to one feature of the invention.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I claim:

1. A sleeve type article carrier comprising spaced top, bottom and side panels, an elongated handle strap diagonally struck from the top panel and having transversely disposed projections at its ends, an elevator tab hingedly connected with each of said projections and hingedly connected with said top panel along individual hinge lines, and an article positioning tab struck from said to panel immediately adjacent one edge of said handle strap from an area thereof which is medially disposed in said top panel, said positioning tab including a horizontal portion interposed between adjacent articles and a vertical portion for positioning said horizontal portion downwardly from said top panel.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the packaged articles are tapered and arranged with the smaller ends thereof in face contacting generally parallel relation to said top panel, and wherein the areas from. which said positioning tab and said handle strap are struck are in communication with each other so as to provide an access opening for facilitating the lifting of the handle strap into its service position from its collapsed condition.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said vertical portion of said positioning tab is joined to said top panel along a fold line which is generally perpendicular to said side panels and wherein said horizontal portion of said positioning tab is joined to said vertical portion thereof along fold line which is generally perpendicular to said side panels.

4. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the edges of said horizontal portion of said positioning tab are configured to conform generally with the adjacent side portions of the adjacent articles respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1949 Bullock 229-54 12/1960 Foster et al 206-65 

1. A SLEEVE TYPE ARTICLE CARRIER COMPRISING SPACED TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE PANELS, AN ELONGATED HANDLE STRAP DIAGONALLY STRUCK FROM THE TOP PANEL AND HAVING TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED PROJECTIONS AT ITS ENDS, AN ELEVATOR TAB HINGEDLY CONNECTED WITH EACH OF SAID PROJECTIONS AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED WITH SAID TOP PANEL ALONG INDIVIDUAL HINGE LINES, AND AN ARTICLE POSITIONING TAB STRUCK FROM SAID TO PANEL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT ONE EDGE OF SAID DISPOSED IN SAID TOP AN AREA THEREOF WHICH IS MEDIALLY DISPOSED IN SAID TOP PANEL, SAID POSITIONING TAB INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL PORTION INTERPOSED BETWEEN ADJACENT ARTICLES AND A VERTICAL PORTION FOR POSITIONING SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP PANEL. 